Armin looks out the taxi window as it bustles through Chicago's downtown. The air seems cooler and he stretches his limbs a bit, enjoying the freedom after being overwhelmed at Union Station. He had two weeks of spring break from Princeton. After chatting with Eren over their nightly skype calls (which included Mikasa, but she couldn't visit while serving in the American air force) Armin got his discounted train tickets (perks of being a grad student) and packed enough clothes for two weeks.

The taxi rounds left into North Harbor Tower, and Armin beams.

After publishing a riveting fantasy novel about Titans, Eren had gotten himself a place in life. Quitting the College of Dupage, he bought a tiny apartment in the middle of Chicago where he continued to write his second book about twisted fathers who made their children eat them. The horror book did well, and Eren had a solid place in his publishing company.

That's how one could see that Eren got farther than either Armin or Mikasa by the age of 24. Armin was pulling some debts, although many of his expenses were paid through scholarships. Mikasa was ranking up in the American Airforce, but experience and tradition were highly valued putting her at a temporary disadvantage.

Now Armin was staring at a 55 floor apartment, surrounded by beautiful buildings and the lake. Sleek windows bounced off the spring light, but the bare trees reminded of the cool weather. Armin stepped out and grabbed his bags before paying ten dollars for the ride (Armin was surprised the ride was so quick, next time he'd walk). Rolling the luggage behind him, he walked by glass doors and told the concierge he was here for "Eren Jaeger?" and was let through to the elevators.

Walking in, he noticed that a little boy was there with him, and when the wheels to his bag got stuck on his way into the elevator he apologized out of manners.

"Don't worry about it. Fucking piece of crap shouldn't try to trip you on your way."

Okay. Armin realized that it wasn't a little boy but in actuality a grown man. Standing at 4 foot something, Armin suddenly felt very strange at his 5' 5". But the rest of the ride up to the seventeenth floor was fine and Armin shuffled out. Finding the door closest to the elevator he was relieved when Eren finally opened the door.

! ~ !

Armin's happy innocent face was like a guiding light. The minute the door was open, Eren's small studio seemed to brighten and Eren was filled with the want to pirouette and hang onto Armin like a lifeline.

"Armin!" Eren glomped onto him, cuddling his head into his shoulder. " I've missed you so much! Seriously! So much!"

"Aw Eren!" Armin said. His affection was kinda blocked by Eren's enthusiastic greeting.

"Did you miss me?" Eren smiled into Armin, still standing at the door way.

"Of course! Even if we do talk all the time."

"It's not the same" He pouted.

Armin started doing an awkward shuffle to get inside the studio and close the door to the hallway. Eren regretfully let him go, and gave him some room to take his shoes off.

"So really quickly, I've got one of those cool studios that let you live a comfortably. So you've got to push and pull at the cabinets a bit, but you'll find our beds, the closet, and obviously the kitchen and dining table." Eren pointed out the moving cabinets by moving the one closest to him.

Armin could see what he meant, and he'd seen this type of living online. Right now, the room was set up with a couch running down the right wall. A dinner table set for four was done by the wall, and there was a small kitchen on the left wall with a tv hung on the corner.

"Um and the bathroom?"

"Oh I've got a separate room for that, to your left!"

As Armin got settled in, Eren opened up the Chinese take-out he'd ordered for the both of them. The smell of meats and sauces filled the apartment, and he turned on Legend of Korra to watch while they ate.

"Have you learned to cook anything yet?" Armin asked as he settled down next to him and took some chopsticks.

"Why should I? I'm rich and successful." Eren teased. Armin just gave him a look.

"Maybe one day we'll try to make something homemade. I guess you take out and get dining hall food 24/7 now?

"My friend Marco actually owns an apartment, so I get the full treatment when I'm lucky." Armin grinned. "I guess I should take over while I'm here. Make it like a thank you for letting me crash here."

"Seriously?! I'll get some ingredients when I'm out then." Eren's eyes sparkled. Although he'd never eaten Armin's cooking, he knew his Grandpa could cook up a mean Stromboli. That kinda stuff was genetic, right?

Armin paused with a weary look in his eye. He quietly got up while Korra fought some bad guys' asses and looked in the fridge. It had a pack of half-drunk beer and a crusty bottle of mustard. He sighed.

! ~ !

"I can't believe you live a block away from Whole Foods yet your fridge looks like that"

"I can't believe you bought $70 worth of food! I was kidding about that whole rich and successful crap! I don't get a monthly check; I'm living book by book. Gotta be careful on what I spend it on, you know that!"

"It'll last us more than a week, you're fine Eren. I bet you'll even save some money."

Eren pouted. He was holding two bags in each hand while Armin held one. Eren was gonna be a good host, but Armin said he didn't trust him with the eggs. They entered the apartments lobby and Armin noticed that short man again. He passed without noticing them, while both of them noticed him.

"Armin it's the French man!" Eren exclaimed. The man twitched and paused, but made his way out of the doors.

"..What?"

"He moved here a couple months ago, isn't he beautiful? He barely speaks English but, honest to god, I'd learn French to get him to fuck me in the ass."

"I.. what? Eren?" Armin paused, head turning quickly to see if the man was still there, but he'd already passed them.

"Hehe okay I'll tone my language down for your pure ears. But he is, I don't know, perfect? A 10 out of 10. I don't think I've ever even met a 10 out of 10 before him…" Eren rambled on.

Armin giggled at the thought of telling Eren he speaks English, but refrained. It would take the mystery out of things for him, and seeing as this was a passing crush Armin didn't feel the need to ruin it for him.

! ~ !

The next time they passed mystery French man was when Eren was taking Armin to see the Sears Tower (Armin asks if he means the Willis, and Eren put a finger over Armins mouth and Shh'd him softly).

Bundled up in coats and scarves as per Chicago spring time weather, the get into the same elevator as the short man dressed up in a suite.

Eren beamed when he noticed and spoke in a polite voice, "Godd Armin just look at him. He's got such good posture, he looks so determined, and this man knows what he wants. I know what I want. I want him to push me.." Eren's voice dies out as the elevator door opens again and some people get in.

Armin makes eye contact with the man, and he raises his eyebrows. Armin just shrugs.

! ~ !

Things didn't get much better for Eren as the two weeks progressed. I mean, Armin was enjoying himself immensely, and Eren got his much needed break from writing his new novel.

But He kept unknowingly hitting on mystery French man in the elevator, and Armin was having a hard time keeping laughter in as Eren's stories got more and more creative. On his part, French man could keep a good poker face, and he even put in some "Excusez-moi"'s to keep up the façade.

The three of them got in the elevator about a week after Armin arrived to Chicago. Eren had wanted to stretch his legs and relax his mind, so they'd visited the nearby park.

"Maybe I should give up on Sci-fi for my book now, ya Armin?" He pondered aloud, getting into the elevator. "I could go into romance. Naïve boy Armin Arlert falls in love with mystery French man in an elevator. Armin invited him to dinner, splurging on him lavishly with gifts. In fact they're so enamored that they take a romantic vacation trip to France. Or maybe your weeb heart would prefer Japan, right?"

"Ha okay, but shouldn't you change Armin Arlert to Eren Jaeger, famous writer extraordinaire?"

Eren pouted "but then I'd have to write it under a pen name!"

"Or maybe you should just make it happen in real life. Hmm?" Armin winked and nudged.

Eren paused. "Do you think that would make me a better writer?" He looked shocked for a moment, and missed the time to get out at his floor while Armin smoothly waved from the other side of the closing doors.

The quiet in the elevator was a contrast to their conversation, and Eren blushed. Without Armin's company, he became more aware of his surroundings and could swear French man was smirking at him, but was too conscious of himself to look up. 'No way, he doesn't know what we're talking about. He must just get that I forgot to get out at the right floor..' He pressed the eighteen button, and went down the stairs to get back to his own floor, where Armin had kept the door open for him.


Hey! R&R Please! Ahead of us we'll probably have 1 or 2 more chapters, with maybe some Levi pov and much more embarrassed Eren.